It was the eve of what would become one of the greater days in Hip-Hop, and music history at large.

Five of the most impacting albums to ever be released that year dropped on the 29th: A Tribe Called Quest split ways on The Love Movement, as Brand Nubian reunited on Foundation, Jay-z got back on his grizzly with Hard Knock Life, while Mos Def and Kweli came together (none) for Blackstar. All the while Outkast prepared to change the world with Aquemini.

There was more than just new music being released, there was history being made by each one of these releases.

It’s hard to describe the insurmountable comfort and pride one can take in knowing that the futur of the music you love is safe. Knowing that tomorrow, Hip-Hop as a culture will have a decade of longevity added to it’s lifespan, that tomorrow stars will be born, and Hip-Hop will make us proud, over and over again. More importantly, knowing that tomorrow, you will be reminded, beyond a shadow of doubt why you love this culture so much.

Fuck rekindling a flame, you would set off an elaborate pyrotechnic show in your soul…with Hip-Hop.

Join The Discussion

Dope post, Contra. I remember this day like it was yesterday…emptying my teenage pockets to cop hip hop insta-classics.

We need that feeling back.

08.07.08 at 9:34 am

tres

Ahhh yes, I remember this day clearly because it was one of those Ice Cube calibre good days. My pops was away on some work shit and he had a ’97 Maxima, so I took the opportunity to rock the Max around. I believe it was the last time I went to the music store before they opened so I can cop the CD as soon as the first register got counted in. I copped that Brand Nubian and that Hard Knock Life. Picture me 19 years old, 9:30 AM blasting the new Jigga around NY in a (almost) brand new Maxima. That set the tone for the rest of that day, thanks for helping me remember the date.

08.07.08 at 9:43 am

tres

Correction, Last time I went to the CD store at opening time was for Nas’ I Am. The only other time, I cut school and copped Life After Death. Honorable mention goes to Wu-Tang Forever, which dropped the same day my youngest brother was born, but before I hit the hospital to go see my moms, I hit up the music store to cop that new Wu.

08.07.08 at 9:45 am

500K Flea

Contra you have hiphop clairvoyant ability!!! I remember that day so clearly man, thanks for the voyage back through time. What albums did you buy that day??? Our release dates in Canada are fucked up so “BlackStar” never dropped until later in the fall; I ended up buying “The Love Movement” while my ninjaz bought Jigga and OutKast. We argued all fucking day who was the nicest!!! lol!!!

@ Flea: We went in the record store 3 deep and split up and bought all the albums. I got Vol. 2 and Blackstar.

I remember my boy later stole my Jay-z CD AND tape. I had backups, but I was mad as all Hell.

08.07.08 at 10:05 am

tres

HAHA…yea bruh..Not only did I do it for the love of the music, but in my high school, having the newest music was like braggin rights. “YOoooo I just copped that new Redman!” “Pshhht, my cousin dubbed me the promo 2 weeks ago, son.”

08.07.08 at 10:22 am

rob pursey

This has been a great week at TSS – props to all the writers/contributors

08.07.08 at 10:40 am

500K Flea

@ Tres: Yeah man, having the new tunes first was like having the freshest kicks or hitting the illest dime-piece in your school!!!

@ Contra: HE DID WHAT!!! That’s a straight violation, a definite no-no!!! I remember one of my ninjaz tried to swipe my Mobb Deep “Hell On Earth” from my collection. What got me more vexed was that the bitch-ass fool tried to deny it!!! Three things you DON’T steal from 500K: Money, music, and food!!!

08.07.08 at 10:40 am

sherm

yeah, that was a great day…i remember driving around bumping hard knock life all day that day….ahhh memories…

Nike Air Jordan III x Nike Air Force One Fusion White University Blue – Sunset (Best Of Both Worlds)

08.07.08 at 10:43 am

Teeph

Wow…I concur w/ Contra, what a significant day for rap record releases. LOL, I boosted some, if not most or all of those CD’s when I worked for a record shop called House Of Music at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

I know some of you Hi-State fools frequent this site…haha, so what if I’m tellin’ on myself…I came up on some good shit 10 years ago.

08.07.08 at 10:57 am

tres

Yooo Teeph, I been to Ala Moana! Me and Mrs. Tres hit up Hawaii just about every year. This year I also went to Kicks/Hawaii right around there. Nice little sneaker shop, plus they sell vinyl. They had the OG black/blue Melo’s for $50, but they were a size too big! Next time I’m trying to go to Fitted/Hawaii.

08.07.08 at 11:03 am

Darius Sinclairâ„¢

We got that ‘Kast at the radio station I worked for. I just took the “for promotional use only” CD home. It was my first experience with Outkast, and it made me a life long fan.

That Jigga though, I was a 8th grader and barrowed it from a 12th grader. I didn’t bring it back on Friday, like he asked. And when I still didn’t bring it on Monday, dude threatened to bust my head. He only lived a few blocks away so I walked that shit to his house after school. He was cool with me ever sence, and now he’s my brother-in-law. Moral…shit, don’t f* with someone’s Jigga CD.

08.07.08 at 11:22 am

The Black Larry Bird

Word from Caribana was that 100 K Flea is a batty fish

08.07.08 at 11:29 am

Teeph

^ @ Tres – you lucky sumbitch! I LOVE Hawaii…I ain’t been there SINCE ’98…those 2 shops you mentioned are dope…Chris Kam, one of the dudes who runs Kicks/HI, is a cool dude, a hip-hop renaiassance man who also spins as DJ Delve1Der

08.07.08 at 11:29 am

Contraâ„¢

Flea, that dude was a marked man for a hot minute. He was on quite a few hit lists. We ended up raiding his crib and jacking back all the CD’s. He returned the favor a few weeks later…

10 years later, we’re still playing the same game.

08.07.08 at 11:40 am

tres

Yea kid, Hawaii is the sheeeit. They got a ill little Hip-Hop scene, a car scene, sumo wrestling and muy-thai on TV…Thats my word if it wasn’t right smack in the middle on the Pacific and half a world away, I’d move there. I got a two foot hand-carved tiki from Waikiki for $60 just chillin in my living room, haha.

08.07.08 at 11:58 am

Scott Scotch

There was a mom and pop that sold ish early, so we copped the HKL & Aquemini albums the Saturday before. At the time, two of my boys ad systems and we rode around campus killing these CDs. Everywhere we went, folks were running up to us like, “Where’d you cop that?” lol

I also remember Jay-Z hitting number one and speculation about Roc-A-Fella buying thier way to the number 1 album.

08.07.08 at 1:19 pm

ViceXXX

I had the Love Movement, I asked my mom to get it for me at a Barnes & Noble. I ripped the Hard Knock Life into mp2s on my computer.

08.07.08 at 7:23 pm

AmpGeez a.k.a Say "Geez"!

Good ish, Contra.

07.15.10 at 11:12 pm

Biggga

That was a great day in hip hop. I had a couple hr break in between classes, I hit up the mom and pop around the corner from school and picked up all 5.